”Grak…he knew that there were death cults still thriving here in the Barrowmaze,” Safherd tells Dax, ”but he…all of us, underestimated how clever and dangerous they could be. That jackal could very well be meant to lure us all into a trap.”

”Is that why you chose to destroy the barrow?” she asks Barnabus, ”Because of the threat the followers of Set might pose? Jiedrol and Nohvi were speaking of it earlier today.”

Ynes snorts, but says nothing, keeping watch on the northern corridor as the company begins to travel to the hallway which Dax had scouted.

Entering the east traveling corridor, the party finds it as quiet as it was when Dax first explored it. Ishmael and Safherd dutifully move to the curtain which the ranger had opened to further scout the approach to Varghoulis’ tomb.

A faint noise of squeaking and rustling is heard as the party approaches the first yellow curtain on the northern wall. Pulling it open, the adventurers are confronted with a hideous sight.

A dead man, clad in poorly fitted leather armor, lies against the wall of the small alcove. Thickening blood on his corpse and the stone floor indicates that his death was recent, likely within the last few hours. The cause of his demise is readily apparent: his head is split open from the blow of an axe, or possibly a pole arm. A dozen rats have gathered on his remains and have begun to devour them, but when the curtain is opened and light from the company’s lantern floods the shallow room, the vermin scatter.

A scabbard hangs from the corpse’s belt, the weapon it contained missing. The dead man’s partially gnawed right hand is closed tightly in a fist.

"There." Sir Dryvyk hissed and pointed to the curtain to the south.

The priest of Impurax considers Safherd's question and then pauses a moment to wipe at his right eye which seems to have watered up without his having noticed.

"Well, now, assuredly as it was inhabited by a barrow mummy and two of its pups, lesser mummies, but, uh, well, I think the decision might have been more about art than anything else. I could say that my soul is filled with a noble purpose just as those of my companions are; I could say that ... but is it a shared purpose?"

He doesn't elaborate further.

"Yes, Ynes, as you can see," he grimaces, "the harvest never ends; the larder's always stocked. But in this case let us empty it."

He asks her to drag the corpse out of the alcove and then pry open its hand which the dead man seems to have been clutching shut with all the might of a "hero."

Check the 2nd southern curtain, then.

For general consideration: do we try to head north and then out after these two curtains?

OR

Do we check that north/south corridor just to the east? We're still in pretty good shape, especially in terms of hps and resources, not so much in terms of spells. It might be good to have Dax scout a bit.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Tue 08 Aug 2023.

Dax nods at Dryvyk. Once Ynes and Barnabus have dealt with the corpse, the ranger moves to the alcove indicated by the paladin, and again, uses the tip of his sword to draw the edge of curtain back, ready to thrust the blade at any fell creature hiding behind the curtain.

Ynes crouches beside the dead man, carefully applying steady pressure to his rigid fist. After a few moments of effort, the corpse’s hand opens, and a silver key with a sapphire set into its bow drops into Ynes’ palm.

Dax carefully pulls the southern curtain to one side with his blade.

Beyond the opening is a dusty alcove. A shelf has been mounted on the southern wall, which holds a collection of yellowed human bones, including a skull, a wide golden bracelet studded with rubies, and a narrow stone tablet, chiseled with a spidery collection of symbols.

Beneath the shelf, hanging on pegs, are a black cloak and a dark chainmail shirt.

As if responding to an observation, Barnabus produces the following: "Yes, it is most uncanny that so much of our labor is dedicated to removing corpses from the barrows rather than interring them within."

He accepts the jeweled key (is there anything that can't become bejeweled?) from Ynes and thinks of the Set cult and its penchant for sapphires. Had this thief pilfered from one gang only to be slaughtered by another?

Behind the next curtain was an assortment of evil implements and armaments, which brings to the priest's mind the chamber dedicated to Orcus.

"If there is one of us beyond corruption, it is Sir," he confirms, as if there had been any doubt. "Please secure the bones, cloak, chain shirt in your pack. Once again we will be removing bones from this crypt."

He takes the tablet without looking at it and stores it in his pack. As for the bracelet, someone is sure to grab it.

Third of the three southern curtains, next.
If Barnabus thinks it would be wise to expend a vial of holy water while harvesting the implements, he will do so.

Barnabus approaches the shelf to collect the tablet while giving Sir Dryvyk instructions on the gathering of the remainder of the items in the alcove.

As he enters, the cloak uncoils.

In an instant it has become an outstretched, looming form fully eight feet in height. It gazes down at Barnabus and the other adventurers with vacant, obsidian eyes that are reminiscent of those of a shark. It opens a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth, reaching down for the intruders with a pair of clawed hands. What appears to be the monster’s tail ends in what resembles a bony flail.



17:27, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  Initiative - Party.

17:27, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Initiative - Cloaker.

Surging forward like a serpent, the creature snaps at Barnabus. The priest reacts quickly, the jagged fangs barely piercing his forearm before he pulls it free. Still wary, the cleric is able to duck the monster’s tail as it lashes out at his head.

17:31, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Bite.

17:32, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Damage.

17:32, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 11 using 1d20.  Attack - Tail.

A terrible moaning rises from the monster’s throat, an unsettling noise that the adventurers feel pulsating within their bones more than hearing it. The sound fills each of the explorers with a suffocating sense of dread, but all are too courageous to flee in fear.

The moaning imposes a -2 penalty on “to hit” rolls until someone shuts the monster up.

The creature has an armor class of 6.

It is evil, so bonuses to armor class and saving throws from Sir Dryvyk’s Protection from Evil aura apply.

If engaging the monster in melee within the alcove, a maximum of three adventurers can fit within the space. Barnabus and Sir Dryvyk are already present.

Ishmael and Safherd are investigating the corridor that links to Lord Varghoulis’ tomb. They will hear the sounds of battle and will rush to provide help. They will arrive on the following combat round.

It is the party’s turn to act.

Backpedaling, Barnabus strikes feebly at his cloak combatant and wonders if a higher level prayer would allow him to transfer his wounds to another, more able-bodied than himself.

Attack: Miss
Move: Exit the alcove to allow space for another melee attacker.

19:53, Today: Barnabus rolled 7,7 using d20+2,d6+4.  Attack Cloaker.

Sir Dryvyk prodded the cloak with the tip of his sword, trying to work of the determination to touch the thing in order to put it into his pack, though he'd much rather have just administered a torch to it and been done. Suddenly he found himself reeling away from a dark mass, hardly realizing what was happening! The Knight interposed himself between the evil cloak and the rest of the party as best he could, calling upon the Lord of Righteousness to protect them in the cramped quarters of the cell. He slashed wildly with his magical sword as the horrific wail began!

"AAAAAUUUUGGGHH!" was his warcry then, for the noisesome cloak made concentration difficult with its keening!

Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme rolled 6 to Miss! Attack Cloaker (-2 to hit).

Dax quickly stands side-by-side with Sir Dryvyk to fight the animated cloak.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 19-2=17, hitting AC 0 for 13 Damage.

Ynes rushes into the gap, axe in hand.”Be vigilant,” she tells Andryr as she passes, ”Who knows how far that groaning can be heard?”

“And watch after our fragile priest!”

She swings her weapon as soon as she closes with the monster.

14:14, Today: Ynes rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Battle Axe.

14:15, Today: Ynes rolled 7 using 1d8+2.  Damage.

Sword in hand, Andryr nods, clearly taking Ynes’ instructions seriously. He peers down the corridor in both directions and, seeing only shadow, turns his attention to Barnabus. ”Are you well, sir?” he asks earnestly.

Sir Dryvyk shot his squire a quick glare, but it was one of frustration, not pain. He just as quickly turned his attention back to the melee.

"Hail! Ever be the path before us..." The words of the Knight's attempt at a hymn were strained and the notes collided badly with the tones of the keen.

"I'd be doing better ya tin can if you would chuck a javelin at that carnivorous cloak instead of performing a wellness check."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Thu 10 Aug 2023.

As the cloak unfolded into a monstrous shape, keening and clawing at his companions, Malivoire wasted no time in beginning a casting.  After a short string of arcane gibberish, a golden bolt shot from his hand and struck the dark beast.

OOC:
Cast last Magic Missile at cloaker for 5 dmg.
21:14, Today: Malivoire rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Damage.

Dax and Ynes land firm blows on the creature and Malivoire’s arcane bolt spears into its center. The monster’s nerve grating groan continues unabated, the noise still gnawing into the adventurers’ bones.

For a moment, the shadows within the alcove thicken as the creature seems to fold in upon itself and then, suddenly, where there was one of the monsters, there are now three.

Ishmael and Safherd, their weapons in hand, come running from the east, ready to join the battle.

The groaning imposes a -2 penalty on “to hit” rolls until silence is restored.

The creatures have an armor class of 6.

They are evil, so bonuses to armor class and saving throws from Sir Dryvyk’s Protection from Evil aura apply.

Barnabus’ Bless spell remains active, so all of the company members receive a +1 bonus to “to hit” and damage rolls.

If engaging the monsters in melee within the alcove, a maximum of three adventurers can fit within the space. Dax, Sir Dryvyk, and Ynes are already present.

It is the party’s turn to act.

Belatedly, Barnbus realized when he had hightailed it out of the alcove, he had taken his lantern with him, where it remained, gripped in his shield hand. The logical response to shadows would be bright light, these not being the spectral variety.

He approaches the threshold to the room and gently tosses his lantern in the direction of the dopplegangers.

The lantern lands with a clank, helpfully providing a spot of additional illumination for those in the thick of melee to better see the creatures threatening them.

Stepping forward, Andryr hurls a javelin at one of the monsters, while blocking Barnabus’ path protectively with his outstretched free arm. As the missile clatters harmlessly against the southern wall, the squire says, ”Careful, Brother Barnabus! The danger has not yet passed!”

13:39, Today: Andryr of Ironguard rolled 2 using 1d20-2.  Attack - Javelin.

"...lit by the lantern of faith..." Sir Dryvyk continued his hymn, trying to block out the noisesome keening. The cramped quarters of the cell made fighting difficult. It was times like these that he longed for a field of battle and a charging warhorse!


Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme rolled 17 to hit AC1 for 4 damage, using d20+1,d8+2.  Attack Cloaker (-2 to hit, +1 Bless), Damage.
Protection from Evil: Those near Sir Dryvyk receive a bonus to AC of –1 and a +1 bonus on saving throws.

"Gods damn it!" Dax cries as the one foe somehow splits into three. The sight shook the ranger enough to send his strike wide of all the possible targets.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 8-2+1=7, missing.

Ynes swings her axe at the closest of the cloak like creatures, but the monster manages to evade her blow.

09:08, Today: Ynes rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Battle Axe.